Heaven's Laws - Lifestone - Chapter 26

They drew near on foot, and the sheer size of the tower became clear. It was a round building, as wide as all but the Ice Phoenix Palace. It was one of the few remaining structures left from this ancient civilization. No other place was more visited.

“It is called simply the Divine Spire, for no one knows the name of the sect or cultivator that it belonged to,” Huifen said to Yu-Yan’s inquisitive ear. “It’s theorized that it was either the trial grounds for an ancient sect, or the inheritance of a divine cultivator. Few of the trials inside will threaten one’s life, but it limits the number of times a person can attend some of the most popular ones. Much like a mystic realm, there are also many stations that can benefit one’s cultivation. The higher one ascends, the harder the trials and more beneficial the stations will be. However, those on the highest floors might even be too much for sky realm cultivators. As for the seventh floor, overlords might even find themselves unable to utilize the opportunities there. Such is the difficulty.”

Chao took in the glassy finish of the spire’s exterior. He knew exactly what he wanted to accomplish. This wouldn’t be a short-lived trip. They planned on being here for months.

The Ice and Fire Phoenix Sects always had a presence here. Only during the threat of the Sun Emperor had they drawn back, but Pangfua would’ve arrived within the last couple days, reestablishing their sect’s preeminence in the region.

He found his Huifen watching him after what she’d said. Much of it was for him, he realized. She’d mentioned this place before, but here they were—finally. This single location was one of the great opportunities for cultivators on this continent and to the wider world. There was limited room in the tower, but the joint sect only reserved a certain number of places, allowing other sects to come and go as they please. It was a paradise for sectless cultivators, often acting as their springboard to the heavens. If talent, skill, and luck was on their side, they could ascend to the earth, sky, and even overlord realms without the help of large sects. That explained why there were so many people.

He gave his wife a roguish look. How couldn’t he? He was disguised as Tao the sound cultivator with his wife Fen’er. She was a nature cultivator fond of orange dresses and flawed jade jewelry. They were respectable earth cultivators, but they’d be lucky to find entry into the Divine Spire after months of waiting. Those with the most strength would be allowed first entry. But they weren’t about to wait. Nor would they just attend to some of the trials on the lower floors. There were many secrets to this spire. Many puzzles that had yet to be solved even after thousands of years. It was rumor, legend, that it wasn’t just one inheritance waiting within these walls, but that of an entire civilization that exceed the comprehension of current lower realm cultivators.

It was like the fleeting dream of overly hopeful youth to believe such rumor, but Chao dared to hope. What if it hadn’t been a lower realm civilization that thrived here? What if it had been a divine realm sect? What if Lifestone hadn’t been a lower realm world at all, but a divine one?

Their pace was a comfortable one. That didn’t mean they were being careless. When they were still a kilometer out, a group approached them, incoming faster.

“Allow me,” Huifen said, directing Yu-yan to stand by Chao.

When he saw the anxiety in their young friend’s face, he chuckled, messing her hair again.

“Big Brother C—Tao,” she complained.

“Can’t help it. Your worried face looks ugly.”

She huffed the hair off her face. She didn’t buy it a second. “Your every face looks ugly,” she retorted.

He gave her the creepiest grin he could manage.

She pretended to be revolted, but her smile came easy enough.

He let out a long, drawn-out breath. “When will you learn, Little Yu-yan? You’re simply look cuter with messy hair.”

He spied the grin tugging at his wife’s mouth.

Three cultivators at the earth realm arrived within split seconds of each other. They were wearing different uniforms, which might explain why it looked like they’d been racing.

“Hold,” a woman commanded, wearing violet martial robes with and identical shade of eye liner that extended to the edge of her face. As haughty as can be, she addressed them. “There’re no places available for any more rogue cultivators. You will have to leave.”

“Dvora,” a man in what looked like wooden armor injected. “Stop with the bullying.” He brought his palm to his fist and addressed them. “Greetings, fellow cultivators. I am Baros of the Morning Midst Village. What the fairy from the Night Pearl Sect says isn’t far off, I’m afraid. The Ice and Fire Phoenix Sects have recently returned to the spire, so it has displaced many cultivators that have been waiting. There’s a six month wait for cultivators without sect support.”

Huifen saluted the man. “I’m Tong Fen, and this is my husband Tao. We have an appointment. You needn’t worry about us.”

“There are multiple sects keeping track of every person that enters the spire,” The violet dressed woman said presumptively. “If you try to sneak in, it won’t end well.”

“So you’re assuming we’d endanger the child with us by breaking the rules?” Huifen replied.

The woman crossed her arms over her chest. Only then did she glance at Yu-yan as if seeing her the first time.

“Children are not allowed in the spire,” a third man said, wearing green and yellow robes.

“She’s not here to cultivate,” Huifen reassured.

“No exceptions will be made.”

The Dvora woman gave her a snooty look. “It’s best if you leave.”

Chao saw Yu-yan expression and messed her hair again.

She didn’t pull away this time but looked up at him regretfully. She thought she was making it impossible for them.

He gave her a wink.

“Are you going to make us leave by force?” Huifen asked. Her voice was even and relaxed.

The Night Pearl Sect woman glared at her but didn’t make a move.

“We will do nothing of the sort,” Baros said. “Will we Fair Dvora?”

The woman closed her eyes as if to center herself. “Of course, not. You’ve been warned.” She didn’t give them another look before flashing away.

“You’ve been warned,” the less talkative man said before following her.

“Sorry for the harsh welcome,” the Morning Midst Village disciple said. “I wish you luck.” He waved before running off.

“It looks like this might be funner than I thought,” Chao said, nudging Yu-yan.

“Husband, we must be careful.”

“I’ll be a good. I promise.”

“Good boy.”

Yu-yan giggled.

They continued on and it wasn’t long before they reached what looked like the outside of some extravagant camp. Maybe in the beginning of a new town. There were more than a dozen permeant buildings and tents at leave five times their number. Many of them stood like mobile pavilions. There were also quite a few formation arrays set up within the camp. He assumed they belonged to different sects and would give them a safer place to do business outside the tower.

There was no fence set up around the group, but there was a gate where a larger group than before were waiting for the arrival of newcomers. Because these were cultivators, there was no bypassing their perceptions, so Chao and Huifen didn’t bother trying. There wasn’t a line when they arrived, so they came right up to the gate that was made of dark hardwood.

The same three were amongst the people there, but it was another woman in violet that received them. She had brownish orange hair and freckles across her nose and under her eyes. Her pupils were crystal blue. She must have been an elder of the Night Pearl Sect, for she had a sky realm cultivation.

He had to hold himself back from asking her if he could take a closer look. He’d never met someone with eyes like hers. Treating people like test subjects wasn’t exactly a comfortable experience for them. He knew that intimately after spending so much time training with Sage Kang.

“We understand you are rogue cultivators that insist on adding their names to the waiting list,” the woman said dully. It wasn’t because of a technique similar to heart of ice. She was simply as irritable as the fairy Dvora was.

“No,” Huifen replied. “We’re hear under the invitation of the Ice Phoenix Sect.”

The woman bit her tongue as if it did anything to hide her grimace.

Chao noticed the younger woman Dvora in the back of the group. Her eyes widened and shot to the ground. It seemed it was the kind of information she was supposed to gather.

“Very well,” she said through grit teeth. “We will put your name on the contact list. Runners will be sent to the Ice Phoenix Sect representative later today. You’re welcome to wait outside of camp and off to the side while you wait. What are your names.”

“That won’t be necessary,” Huifen replied. “We wouldn’t want to inconvenience you.”

When she didn’t say more, the Night Pearl Sect elder smirked, thinking she caught them in a lie. Only then did Huifen take out her transmission jade. It was something many medium sects only had a few of.

He saw the envy in the disciples surrounding them. His Huifen reached out to Sage Pangfua directly. She didn’t let on that’s who she was talking to. “Big Sister,” she said aloud. “Yes. We have arrived at the front gate. Thank you.” She put the jade away and stepped back, reaching for Yu-yan’s hand.

Chao resisted messing the girl’s hair as he stepped back with them. He knew it was in him to get carried away. His wife had made that clear. His main reason for doing it was just to distract her. The girl had been through far too much that last week of her life.

The stage was set. Everyone waited in anticipation. A few moments later, from the Ice and Fire Phoenix’s side of the camp that was right up near the entrance, an ice fairy shot into the sky. She soared up to the fourth level of the tower before changing trajectory. An instant later, she was coming toward them with a curved descent.

The woman touched down with cool grace. There were few fairies, if any, more beautiful that the woman that had come to greet them. The exception was the woman’s own daughter. His wife.

“Elder Sya,” Huifen said with a martial bow.

Chao did as well while guiding Yu-yan to do the same.

“We hoped we’d see you today,” his mother-in-law said bypassing the pleasantries. She stepped up to Huifen to give her a close scan. “You look well.” She glanced between them.

“Very well.”

“And you, Junior Tao?” She cleared the distance between them with a single stride. He still didn’t think he knew the woman well yet, but even if her expressions were restricted, he could see the concern in her eyes.

“Better than ever,” he reassured her.

Then she gave him one of her grins. She was far more natural than all but Sect Master Quinyuan.

He couldn’t help but to respond with one in return.

“And who is this?” she said, putting on the face of an elder of the Ice Phoenix Sect.

Yu-yan saluted a second time. “I am Duan Yu-yan, fairy elder.”

“She’s has recently lost her parents,” Huifen said, stepping up to her mother’s side. “They were heroes that died fighting a few thousand lingering spirits while protecting their town. She has agreed to join the Ice Phoenix Sect.”

Even though the girl’s eyes were growing wet at the sound of what happened, she stood tall.

“I see,” Sya said, leaning down to get on the girl’s level. Her expression held a glimmer of hope. “You have my sympathy, little one. I am very pleased to meet you.” The warmest expression Chao had ever seen the woman make beamed at the girl.

“I’m happy to meet you too.”

Straightening, Sya said, “Allow me to escort you, Sage Pangfua. She’s been anticipating your arrival.” Only then did she turn and look at the Night Pearl Sect elder. “Elder Alfori,” she said with a nod, then picked the three of them up with her qi and flew them toward the tower’s entrance.

When Yu-yan began to squirm while flying for the first time, Huifen pulled the girl to her, holding her tight.

“Oh?” Chao said, when he saw where they were heading.

“We have a limited number of people we can send in at a time,” Mother Sya explained. “Our disciples rotate. They must sleep anyway.”

“The other sects seem bitter that we are here.”

“Yes. Understandably. We pulled out because of the Aureate Empire’s threat. Our return, though the other sects gave in willingly, has taken seats from them all. Most don’t have any bad intentions, but watch out for that Alfori woman, as well as the Morning Midst Village disciples. They won’t harm anyone while we’re here. Don’t put bullying past them though.”

“We’ve noticed,” Huifen replied. “Nothing serious though. However, we did meet a disciple of the Morning midst Village. He was the only one among the three that greeted us that showed any manners.”

“That is their way. Polite as a deceitful snake. Be wary of them. The Night Pearl Sect is forthcoming with their annoyance, but they led the way in convincing the others to give us the number of place holders we have.”

“Mmmm.”

“These checkpoints are annoying,” Sya said. “Let’s get that settled right now.”

She landed, setting them all down, and marched up to the booth of ministers. There were five of them sitting side by side.

When they saw her, many of them stood and saluted, but not all of them. The man closest to the entrance to be exact. He had a head of curly brown hair and a matching beard. His smile was so inviting that it seemed fake. He wore wooden armor similar to Baros from the Morning Midst Village.

“Fairy Sya,” he called heartily. “How can this one help you?”

“Elder Harnish,” she said, turning so it looked like she was saluting the others sitting there but not him. “The Ice and Fire Phoenix Sect have two place holders not being used. This is Tong Tao and his wife Tong Fen. These spots have been saved for them. They’re the guests of our joint sect and have unlimited access to the spire.”

“Unlimited?” The man replied. “For two earth realm cultivators?”

She didn’t bother responding.

“Fine. Fine,” the man gave in. “They’re your spots, of course. Then let’s get them spelled and they can get started.”

“Talismans are what were agreed upon. If I find any tracking spells on joint sect disciples, Sage Pangfua will hear of it.”

“Yes. Yes. Don’t beat up an old man for being forgetful.” He chuckled. Two wooden talismans shot out of his hand. Chao and Huifen each caught one.

“Place them in your spatial rings so you can’t be tracked,” Mother Sya insisted. “If there’s any problems entering then pull them out.”

They both replied that they understood.

“And what of this pretty little lady?” Elder Harnish said.

“She’s to see the Sage.”

“Very well. Good cultivating.” He gave them a genial smile.

They left the booth of elders and finally walked toward the entrance. The doors were open and it arched up to a point. Chao got his first close up view of the black and silver stone. The silver specks glowed with their own light.

Once inside, they entered an open room as large as the joint sect arena. The walls were made of the same black stone, but the ceiling and floor were its opposite. It was dull silver with black specks. The ceiling was high, and he could already see different stations spread throughout the room. People were everywhere, which made it hard to observe them. It was large enough that there were nearly as many sect pavilions inside as outside.

One caught his eyes. Its grandeur was beyond all the rest. He’d seen this one before. The first time was just before his mother had died. He’d stayed in it while his father was trying to save her.

Sya headed straight for the domed cloudy building with the two ice phoenixes spreading their wings to block the entrance. As they neared, it opened to receive them. They’d gone shopping and attended an auction in the capital city, then met the Li family sage. They’d traveled the countryside as two wandering adventures and stayed in almost every town they passed. Chao had nearly been assassinated, only to be saved by his wife. Her friend was the assassin, who’d trained her for that exact purpose. He’d practically kicked the Sect Master of the Fire Phoenix Sect out of his office, and saved the man’s wife from his own sword. They’d explored old runes and saved a village from an army of ghosts. Finally, they reached their destination.

As soon as they entered the companion chamber to the Ice Phoenix Palace, its doors closed behind them, and they found Sage Pangfua waiting for them with Father Tu and Little Genji. As soon as the doors were shut, Mother Sya spun and pulled Huifen and Chao into an embrace.